# Chapter 86
Chapter 86
Cayena's figure appeared at the entrance.
Zenon could hear involuntary murmurs of astonishment, and it wasn't just one person.
Most of the councilors gulped or widened their eyes, and Zenon was also briefly mesmerized by his appearance.
Chancellor Debussy looked surprised.
After a moment, his expression suddenly twitched.
Contrary to his expectations, he found no flaws in Cayena's outfit.
Dressed in cool colors as if she knew this day would come, she exuded perfect dignity.
Her silver dress, blue cape, and the pearl tiara on her head were neither excessive nor insufficient to reflect her current position.
Cayena looked around proudly.
She showed no sign of meekness in the conference room full of ministers and other officials.
Finally, she opened her mouth.
“It looks like everyone has already arrived.
The councilors, who had lost focus because of Cayena's entry, paid attention to his words again.
No one remembered to greet her, as impressed as they were by her spirit and beauty.
They quickly knelt down to pay respect.
“We salute Her Highness, the Princess.
Cayena didn't allow them to get up.
She crossed the conference room, walking neither too quickly nor too slowly.
Standing in front of the golden throne, Cayena said: — You can get up now.
The councilors stood up in silence, unable to speak.
The confusion from a moment ago had disappeared as if it had been nothing more than a lie.
The silence could not be ignored.
Cayena took the first step.
“Why aren't you sitting down?
They considered it a protected flower, grown in a greenhouse.
Now, they sat confused at his command.
“Let's start the council meeting.
The councilors could not open their mouths easily.
They just looked at each other in silence.
“It’s just a meeting”
It was a meeting like the many boring ones she had attended in her past life.
She attended meetings with CEOs, board members, presidents, vice presidents, and even presiding officers.
In the end, the state council meeting was a matter of defining agenda items and arbitrating the different ideas of the branches of administration.
The council soon recovered and continued the assembly.
“Then, I will tell you what the most urgent matter on today's agenda is.
It's been mentioned a few times before, but each group's budget and…
Cayena noted that some faces hardened as soon as the budget was mentioned.
She silently listened to them as they continued the meeting.
“Most of the troops defending the capital are from the central army.
Do you intend to let our defense be breached by reducing the budget?!
“We are not at war now!
—Apparently, the target today was Jed, the commander of the central army.
“The military budget was the first to be cut last time.
Do you intend to do this again?
Are you kidding me?
When Commander Jed screamed in fury, the Chancellor clicked his tongue.
“Oh my.
Aren't you speaking too rudely in the presence of His Highness?
With these words, Jed scolded Debussy.
“Isn’t it the government’s mismanagement that caused this shortage of funds?
“What, what?!
— The chancellor's face turned red.
He slammed his hand on the table.
“It's because we feed and shelter those who don't even function that things have become like this!
—Jed stood up.
With his stern expression, he looked like he was a second away from drawing his sword.
In the intense silence, Cayena said abruptly: — So, things wouldn't be resolved if there was a use for the central army?
What was she talking about?
That was what everyone's faces seemed to express to Cayena.
“What do you mean by that?
“Is there anyone here who has thought about how to maintain the central army while spending less money?
They just blinked.
“Does it make sense that the power of the empire would weaken if we reduce the military budget, Chancellor Debussy?
In response, Chancellor Debussy smiled slowly and handed a document to a servant.
The servant handed the document to Cayena.
“As you can see, it is very expensive and unnecessary to maintain the army when we are not at war, Your Highness.
This was the reason why he continually decreased the military budget.
It was a political decision to reduce Jed's influence.
“That's why we have to cover the cost of this budget elsewhereugar.
Chancellor Debussy looked around the conference room.
He was looking to reach an agreement.
Everyone nodded and sympathized with the chancellor's words.
Cayena smiled mischievously as she flipped through the document Chancellor Debussy gave her.
Last night, she compiled some data on state affairs.
Vera, who was at his side, handed some papers to the council.
The councilors' eyes were glued to the papers.
"Huh?
Did the princess prepare something?"
The cabinet meeting was definitely organized at the last minute.
The agenda had not yet been announced.
And yet, the princess had prepared something.
It was incomprehensible.
Plus, it was obvious that Cayena had spent a good amount of time getting dressed for the occasion.
The time she spent preparing her outfit must have been considerable, so when did she prepare it?
They felt something was wrong.
“There hasn't been a plague in the capital for almost 10 years.
This was Chancellor Debussy's greatest achievement during his tenure.
A minister responded in his place.
“Yes.
It's been like that since we reorganized the water and sewage system.
“That's probably the reason why the capital's population has tripled over the years.
However, we no longer cultivate land, and only slums and slums have increased.
Saying that, Cayena tapped the documents she had brought.
The chancellor's eyebrows twitched.
“Thus, the number of households not registered in our registry increases, facilitating the collapse of public order.
Am I wrong?
The councilors, still looking perplexed, acknowledged his words.
“…you're right.
“I found that the number of times the central army was mobilized to guarantee the city's security has increased over the years.
Attendance has increased dramatically over the last five years in particular.
Commander Jed looked at Cayena with thoughtful eyes.
He didn't expect her to investigate this matter.
The councilors began to look at each other more as Cayena continued to speak.
The princess had clearly prepared well for the council meeting.
This was no longer a place where she could be humiliated.
“There was no urban development during this period, other than the renovation of the water and sewage system.
What does this mean, Chancellor Debussy?
Her question closed the chancellor's mouth, and he was as silent as a mouse.
Cayena handed over the documents she had prepared to Chancellor Debussy.
He was boiling inside, he couldn't even think about touching them.
He tried to calm down.
How dare this newbie pretend to be knowledgeable and try to teach him?
“As you can see from this,” said Cayena, pointing to the newspapers, as Chancellor Debussy did earlier, “the population of the capital has increased, but the land has not been developed.
Naturally, housing prices soared.
The homeless population has increased.
She turned her gaze to Commander Jed.
“Commander Jed, what proportion of people in the central army come from the capital?
Jed responded eagerly, as if he had been waiting.
There was a strange joy in his voice.
“It's about 30% of the army.
In her response, Cayena looked pityingly at the council.
“If someone understands what this means, can you tell me without holding back?
“Umm…
They considered the Central Army a bottomless pit for funds, but they had not thought to look deeper.
They should have considered the knights' salary.
If a knight from the region wanted to be a citizen of the capital, he would have to buy land and calculate taxes.
“Do you think you can buy a house in the capital, with prices skyrocketing, on just a knight's salary?
“That’s…
There was no way they could pay for this.
Naturally, most of the knights were stationed in the imperial capital.
Having troops stationed in the imperial capital was the norm, and for that, they needed the budget.
A minister said cautiously, — There haven’t been any problems so far, but…
“That's because we were at war.
There were no problems because they had received reparations through the war, but now things were different.
“You don't intend to start a war to steal from weaker nations now, do you?
Chancellor Debussy said sarcastically.
In the end, his words only pointed out the problem.
She hadn't provided a solution.
“So, you will use the central army to develop more land?
Wouldn't that increase expenses?
It would be nice if theyThey may be more useful, but at the heart of it all, we are trying to cut the budget.
Cayena shook her head.
“I intend to give the reclaimed land to the knights in lieu of wages.
Can't they just settle down there, getting married and living the life?
Then, they will not be tied to the imperial city.
They will just have to commute to work.
In this case, the capital's population would be more stable and the burden on the budget would naturally decrease.
As the land was cleared, the number of residential areas would increase.
With the increase in residential areas, new commercial areas emerged.
In other words, the capital will expand.
“Oh, that and…!
— The councilors dropped their jaws.
They were obsessed with the idea that the army should be stationed in the capital at all times.
And they didn't know there were so few native soldiers in the capital.
Zenon encouraged the chancellor to use today's council meeting to tame Cayena.
But instead of them defeating her spirit, she crushed them.
"Princess…!"
Zenon looked at Cayena with a completely crooked face.
Their eyes met for a moment.
Cayena's indifferent eyes looked at him and turned away.
Zenon felt humiliated.
“So, does anyone have anything else to say on this subject?
No one could say anything more.